Cbeebies Swashbuckle presenter to read children a story during live online Worksop church service

Gemma, 38, is most well-known for the channel’s Swashbuckle - a gameshow aimed at 2-7 year olds which pits children against a gang of pirates.

During the 11am service the presenter - who has been part of CBBC since 2002 - will read a story from the bible about Jesus calming the storm before playing a game with youngsters.

Reverend Luiz Lima, vicar of Christchurch and St Lukes for the last three years, told how in Easter last year Gemma took part in three services in one day.

Dressed in full pirate costume she entertained ‘hypnotised’ kids with games and renditions of the Swashbuckle theme song before telling the biblical story of the Lost Coin.

Rev Lima said: “It was a party as well as a service - it was absolutely fantastic and the kids loved it.

“Then she sat them all down after getting them so hyper and told them the story - they were hypnotised by it and as a parent I thought ‘how did she do that?’

“A lot of families who had never been to church before came that day last year.”

Luiz, who is originally from Brazil, told how he approached Gemma about last Easter’s appearance through a mutual friend.

He said: “We all knew of Gemma - as parents we’d spent years watching her on TV.

“She was just so approachable and easy to engage - we decided to do it again this year but the lockdown meant we had to postpone.

“So instead of coming up from London she suggested doing it virtually - it’s just a little way for her to show she’s thinking about us and the families.”

Rev Lima added Gemma’s chosen story this Sunday would be ‘apt with things as they are at the moment’.

To see the service visit the church’s Facebook page HERE.